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recreational vehicle
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by rv enthusiasts
for use by
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Find out about an
rv campsite, rv
campground, rv park,
or rv service
BEFORE you spend
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Despite a deep recession that has consumers pinching their pennies and business owners worrying about how to make payroll, Vineyard RV Park manager Meaghan Bertram wasn’t surprised when a caravan of custom-built, million-dollar recreational vehicles recently rolled into her Vacaville facility.
With many vacationers staying closer to home in order to save a few bucks, RVing has become an increasingly alluring option for people with sophisticated tastes to indulge in their pastimes, Bertram said. In her neck of the woods, many of those rolling bon vivants are focused on one thing: Wine.
“About 25 percent of people we see are specifically coming to see the Napa and Sonoma valleys,” Bertram said, “(With the economy), more people are traveling from closer destinations – people from L.A. or parts of the Bay Area are doing a local trip. A lot of people have lived here their whole life and have not spent time in the wine country.”
Bill Mundee, along with his brother Ken, opened the Wine Country RV Park in Paso Robles six years ago. They figured that between Hearst Castle, the Central Coast and the area’s wine country, there was a lot of business to be had. Catering to RVers who want to taste at the region’s increasingly popular wineries has become a large part of their business.
“That’s been our main customer since we opened,” Bill Mundee said.
The Mundees offer wine tasting at the park, point oenophiles to good wineries and are even thinking of starting a shuttle service to take RVers on wine tours.
Business is good, Mundee said. On the weekends when wine festivals pepper area parks and downtowns, his facility will be sold out months in advance.
Though he hasn’t been in the business for that long, Mundee thinks it’s fair to say RV culture has grown more sophisticated.
“They want a place to sleep. They want wi-fi,” he said. “They want to drink wine.”
Mike Nohr, manager of the 21st Annual Manufacturers’ RV and Boat Show, said he’s noticed the growing sophistication of RVers as well, and sees it as a market he can tap. At his Pleasanton RV show, for instance, consumers will be able to purchase hot tubs and customized kitchens – luxuries that would never have popped up at his shows a decade ago.
“The old RV stereotype has definitely changed. These are cultured people with distinctive tastes,” said Nohr, whose show is slated to open at the Alameda County fairgrounds on May 15 and run through May 24. “I’ve noticed more and more RVers focusing their trips on exploring our region’s wine country – which is a great thing.”
Case in point: Suzanne and Bill Wilkinson, who love to travel to the Paso Robles RV park and taste what the region has to offer. After buying their first tent trailer years ago to camp with the kids, they upgraded in 2005 to a Holiday Rambler Savoy travel trailer and now say they go wine tasting four or five days a month.
The couple from Wood Park in Southern California find taking their RV for weekends in Paso Robles is the perfect way to find new wineries and taste new wines – a pastime they’ve enjoyed for a decade.
“The RV allows us to go where the functions are and enjoy the functions to the fullest without worrying about being on the road and the distance,” said Suzanne Wilkinson, 51. “And we get to meet other people that enjoy the same passion.”
They do run into many like-minded RVers on the wine trail
“It used to be what I would see was dirt bikes and beer,” said Bob Wilkinson, 58. “This isn't that at all. It’s very much more sophisticated than the camping I used to do years ago.”
The Wilkinsons enjoy the convenience, freedom and romance that traveling with their RV gives them.
“It’s a grown-up getaway,” Suzanne Wilkinson said.
Many people, like the Wilkinsons, choose to RV because of the convenience of having a “home on wheels,” said Vineyard RV Park employee Elena Brown. There is never the disappointment of finding out the room is much smaller than it looked on the hotel Web site, no hassles with disinterested clerks and no need to pack and repack at different stops along the way.
What’s more, there is a definite cost-savings to RVing. A recent study for the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association showed that typical family RV camping vacations on average are 27 to 61 percent less expensive on a per-day basis than other types of vacations.
“Traveling is more economical that way,” Brown said, “and there is a greater population of people who own these (RVs) now.”

Doing a tour
of the country in an RV
is certainly a thrilling
way to see a variety of
destinations. However, RV’s
are large vehicles, and
most are trailers, which
you may not be used to towing.
One of the many concerns
that crop up with a towing
trailer is its weight. RV
weight can vary greatly,
and the towing vehicle needs
to be able to accommodate
the RV.

You already
have the ability to drive
an RV if you’re a skilled
car driver. However, like
all drivers, an RV operator
can be placed in an emergency
situation at any point.
Good defensive driving techniques
will keep you from being
involved in accidents. Always
keep a three-second or more
following distance from
the vehicle ahead of you.
Also, you should always
use your vehicle’s mechanical
signals when you move in
and out of traffic.

Here are
some
free RV safety trips:
Look over all your RV’s
gear and systems at least
a week before you take to
the open road. Always examine
tires, brakes, jacks, lights,
oil, radiator, belts, horn,
shocks, steering, windshield
wipers and washers, lubrication
and other critical equipment.
Tires are one of the most
important factors to safe
RVing. Well-adjusted brakes
are also crucial.

It’s easy
to let your guard down at
times and overlook the fact
that not everybody you come
across will be as law abiding
as you might be. RVer's
are a prime target for the
criminal mind. To reduce
the probability that you
will be a victim, take these
precautions:

§Rest stops
attract criminals, so never
stay overnight

§Get in the
habit of locking the doors
when no one is in the RV

§Schedule
stops at gas stations, convenience
stores and ATM’s during
daylight hours, and be aware
of your surroundings whenever
you stop

§Always park
in a well-lit area with
the entry door of the RV
facing where most of the
action is

§Keep any
valuables inside the RV
secured and out of sight

§Do not store
valuable equipment in outside
storage compartments – many
of these compartments can
be accessed with keys belonging
to any other RV

Plan your
trip carefully before you
set out. Driving too fast
or for long periods of time
can cause fatigue and falling
asleep at the wheel. Limit
your driving time to 5 or
6 hours per day. Stay alert
and monitor what is going
on around you at all times.
Avoid driving or pulling
your RV during bad weather
and high winds. Finally,
stay safe and smart, and
enjoy your RV experience.

As might be
expected, sales
of recreational
vehicles have
plummeted in
the last year
as the recession
deepens, credit
dries up and
consumers concentrate
on saving money.

But over the
past couple
months, RV dealers
have begun to
experience something
unexpected –
an uptick in
the number of
savvy buyers
drawn to their
sales lots by
steep discounts.
Like businesses
looking to lure
customers, dealers
are cutting
prices to move
their products.
Industry experts
say that makes
this the best
time in 30 years
to buy an RV.

"We're having
people coming
in saying 'make
me a deal I
can't refuse,'"
said Michael
Jacque, president
of Morgan Hill-based
Alpine RV, who
said buyers
can expect price
cuts of 15 to
20 percent across
the board. "If
you have the
means, without
a doubt this
is the best
time to buy
an RV."

Sales of RVs,
from economical
towables to
luxurious land-yachts,
dropped almost
41 percent in
California between
November 2008
and the previous
year, according
to Statistical
Surveys, which
tracks RV retail
sales. Nationally,
sales were down
28 percent during
that same time
period.

Slashed prices
and fiscal incentives,
including the
recently signed
$789 billion
federal economic
stimulus package
that includes
tax breaks for
people buying
RVs, are combining
to create one
of the best
buyers' markets
in decades,
RV dealers say.

Jacque, who’s
been in the
business for
30 years, said
this recession
is the worst
hit he’s seen
the industry
take. However,
with sales and
traffic on the
rise, hope and
optimism are
starting to
creep back in.
He expects business
to get better
in the following
months and possibly
peak in May
– something
Mike Nohr, director
of the 21st
Annual Manufacturers’
RV and Boat
Show, is banking
on.

Nohr originally
had his Pleasanton-based
show planned
for early January
but changed
the dates to
the last two
weeks in May
in the hopes
of catching
an upsurge in
business.

“It's an oxymoron
in a way,” Nohr
said. “The industry
is hurting,
yet we're hearing
more and more
of our vendors
saying people
are interested
in getting into
an RV because
they realize
this is the
time to get
a deal.”

When he made
the decision
to change the
dates of his
show, which
has been a staple
at the Alameda
County Fairgrounds
for two decades,
Nohr knew it
was a gamble.
But with nearly
30 dealers planning
to attend, he
believes he'll
be holding the
right cards
come May.

"Obviously it's
best to shop
around when
you're looking
to save money,"
he said. “And
with this many
dealers in one
place willing
to negotiate,
people could
save a boatload.”

One of those
dealers is Henry
Flores, general
manager of Los
Banos-based
Toscano RV.
Flores believes
the industry
has already
hit rock bottom
and things are
beginning to
look up. While
his sales haven’t
surged yet,
he’s seen more
traffic on his
lot than in
previous months.
The buyers perusing
his wares are
hip to the situation
the industry
is in and willing
to capitalize
on it, too,
he said.

“They know it
is the time
to buy. They
know they can
buy something
reasonable and
get a deal,”
Flores said.
“Two to three
years ago, no
way. The market
was hot. But
now, people
know they’re
gonna be able
to steal it.
They know.”

· Dealers are
experiencing
more buyer interest
now than they
were six months
ago

· The Pleasanton
Manufacturers'
RV and Boat
Show, held from
May 15-24, will
host nearly
30 dealerships
in one place
offering reduced
prices

· Buyers can
experience 15-20
percent discounts
across the board

· Economic stimulus
package allows
a portion of
the sales tax
on motorhomes
to be deducted;
applies to the
first $49,500
of the purchase
price for people
with an income
of up to $125,000

By: Erin
Simpson

As might
be expected,
sales of
recreational
vehicles
have plummeted
in the last
year as
the recession
deepens,
credit dries
up and consumers
concentrate
on saving
money.

But over
the past
couple months,
RV dealers
have begun
to experience
something
unexpected
– an uptick
in the number
of savvy
buyers drawn
to their
sales lots
by steep
discounts.
Like businesses
looking
to lure
customers,
dealers
are cutting
prices to
move their
products.
Industry
experts
say that
makes this
the best
time in
30 years
to buy an
RV.

"We're having
people coming
in saying
'make me
a deal I
can't refuse,'"
said Michael
Jacque,
president
of Morgan
Hill-based
Alpine RV,
who said
buyers can
expect price
cuts of
15 to 20
percent
across the
board. "If
you have
the means,
without
a doubt
this is
the best
time to
buy an RV."

Sales of
RVs, from
economical
towables
to luxurious
land-yachts,
dropped
almost 41
percent
in California
between
November
2008 and
the previous
year, according
to Statistical
Surveys,
which tracks
RV retail
sales. Nationally,
sales were
down 28
percent
during that
same time
period.

Slashed
prices and
fiscal incentives,
including
the recently
signed $789
billion
federal
economic
stimulus
package
that includes
tax breaks
for people
buying RVs,
are combining
to create
one of the
best buyers'
markets
in decades,
RV dealers
say.

Jacque,
who’s been
in the business
for 30 years,
said this
recession
is the worst
hit he’s
seen the
industry
take. However,
with sales
and traffic
on the rise,
hope and
optimism
are starting
to creep
back in.
He expects
business
to get better
in the following
months and
possibly
peak in
May – something
Mike Nohr,
director
of the 21st
Annual Manufacturers’
RV and Boat
Show, is
banking
on.

Nohr originally
had his
Pleasanton-based
show planned
for early
January
but changed
the dates
to the last
two weeks
in May in
the hopes
of catching
an upsurge
in business.

“It's an
oxymoron
in a way,”
Nohr said.
“The industry
is hurting,
yet we're
hearing
more and
more of
our vendors
saying people
are interested
in getting
into an
RV because
they realize
this is
the time
to get a
deal.”

When he
made the
decision
to change
the dates
of his show,
which has
been a staple
at the Alameda
County Fairgrounds
for two
decades,
Nohr knew
it was a
gamble.
But with
nearly 30
dealers
planning
to attend,
he believes
he'll be
holding
the right
cards come
May.

"Obviously
it's best
to shop
around when
you're looking
to save
money,"
he said.
“And with
this many
dealers
in one place
willing
to negotiate,
people could
save a boatload.”

One of those
dealers
is Henry
Flores,
general
manager
of Los Banos-based
Toscano
RV. Flores
believes
the industry
has already
hit rock
bottom and
things are
beginning
to look
up. While
his sales
haven’t
surged yet,
he’s seen
more traffic
on his lot
than in
previous
months.
The buyers
perusing
his wares
are hip
to the situation
the industry
is in and
willing
to capitalize
on it, too,
he said.

“They know
it is the
time to
buy. They
know they
can buy
something
reasonable
and get
a deal,”
Flores said.
“Two to
three years
ago, no
way. The
market was
hot. But
now, people
know they’re
gonna be
able to
steal it.
They know.”

· Dealers
are experiencing
more buyer
interest
now than
they were
six months
ago

· The Pleasanton
Manufacturers'
RV and Boat
Show, held
from May
15-24, will
host nearly
30 dealerships
in one place
offering
reduced
prices

· Buyers
can experience
15-20 percent
discounts
across the
board

· Economic
stimulus
package
allows a
portion
of the sales
tax on motorhomes
to be deducted;
applies
to the first
$49,500
of the purchase
price for
people with
an income
of up to
$125,000

A Greener
Path
By Erin
Simpson

Earth-friendly
recreational
vehicles
and accessories
on the rise
as consumers
demand more
green options

Living lightly
on the planet
is entering
mainstream
American
culture
as consumers
demand eco-friendly
products
ranging
from organic
clothing
to hybrid
cars. Even
recreational
vehicle
owners,
a group
of consumers
not immediately
associated
with environmental
responsibility,
are jumping
on the green
bandwagon.

Eighteen
percent
of RV owners
are already
using solar
panels,
according
to the Recreational
Vehicle
Industry
Association
(RVIA),
and new
regulations
are being
instated
to ensure
wood products
in all new
RVs for
sale in
California
have low
formaldehyde
levels.
While green
RVs aren’t
mainstream
yet, experts
agree the
industry
is moving
in that
direction.

“It’s basic
supply and
demand,”
said Michael
Nohr, manager
of the Pleasanton-based
21st Annual
Manufacturers’
RV Show,
which runs
May 15-25
at the Alameda
County Fairgrounds.
“Consumers
want more
green features,
so manufacturers
are beginning
to respond.”

When he
hosted his
first RV
show two
decades
ago, Nohr
joked that
the only
green option
was for
the paint
job. In
fact, even
five years
ago, the
average
RVer would
have “looked
at me sideways”
if he tried
to steer
them toward
a vendor
hawking
green wares,
he said.

“Now I’d
get a sideways
look if
I didn’t
have vendors
offering
those amenities
– like rigs
already
fitted with
solar panels,”
Nohr said.
“And it’s
really not
that big
of a leap
when you
look at
the numbers.
RV vacations
are actually
greener
than other
ones.”

A recent
study for
the RVIA
found that
RV vacations
have a significantly
smaller
carbon footprint
than their
plane/car/hotel
counterparts.
In many
cases, the
more traditional
vacation
emitted
nearly twice
the amount
of CO2 than
the same
RV vacation,
the study
showed.

Vacaville-based
Vineyard
RV Park
owner Meaghan
Bertram,
whose park
is a certified
green business,
said despite
the bad
rap they
get, RVs
are inherently
efficient
– especially
where water
and electricity
are concerned.
The downfall
is gas consumption;
however
she echoed
Nohr’s sentiments
that consumer
demands
for a lighter,
more fuel
efficient
model will
force the
industry
to pay attention.

“Overall,
I think
the industry
is really
at the crossroads
of a huge
change,”
Bertram
said. “Five
years ago,
nobody in
this industry
even talked
about green.
Now it is
the new
buzzword.”

Sales manager
Jim Eberhardt
of McMahons
RV Santa
Cruz – a
city known
for its
green inclinations
– said he
gets consumers
asking about
green RVs
“all the
time.” He
estimated
that 20
to 40 percent
of his customers
want to
know about
eco-friendly
options
– specifically
hybrid engines.

“Fuel economy
is what
it is,”
said Eberhardt,
who believes
a true hybrid
RV will
be a huge
success
when it
hits the
marketplace.
“(Consumers)
never ask
about price.
A lot of
them don’t
understand
why (manufacturers)
aren’t doing
it now.”

Until they
do, consumers
will have
to green
their rigs
in other
ways, such
as installing
wind turbines
and converting
their engines
to use bio-diesel.

Brian Brawdy,
an ex-New
York police
officer
turned green
RVer, did
just that
when he
decided
to hit the
road just
over a year
ago in a
quest to
live off
the grid
and get
in touch
with nature
and himself.

“I did it
not only
to be environmentally
friendly.
The environment
I’m most
interested
to be friendly
to is the
mental environment
of me being
out in the
middle of
nowhere,”
Brawdy said.
“For me,
it’s the
combination
of green
RVing, but
also self-reliance
and independence.”

Brawdy estimated
he invested
upwards
of $10,000
in greening
his RV –
a 2008 Ford
pickup truck
with a Lance
camper –
and hit
the road.
His journey
has taken
him to 48
states so
far. Thanks
to his green
modifications,
much of
the voyage
has been
augmented
by nature.

He installed
solar panels
and a wind
turbine
on the RV
to help
generate
electricity.
He uses
a rain filtration
system.
And he uses
electricity-sipping
LED lights
and fills
up with
bio-diesel
when possible
– last year
he was able
to use it
about a
third of
the time.

The modifications
mean he
can pull
over wherever
and whenever
– even in
the middle
of nowhere
– because
he doesn’t
have the
need for
power hookups
holding
him back.
That, Brawdy
said, is
exactly
what more
people need
to do to
send green
RVing into
the mainstream.

“More people
need to
get out.
You’re more
inclined
to want
to save
something
if you’ve
savored
it first,”
he said.
“Unless
we start
encouraging
people to
explore
off the
beaten path,
nobody’s
gonna want
to protect
it. RVing
is not going
away. You
can’t legislate
the nomadic
human spirit
out of people.”

How you
can be a
green RVer:

· Purchase
an RV with
green accoutrements
already
installed:
Models available
at the 21st
Annual Manufacturers’
RV Show
at the Alameda
County Fairgrounds
from May
15-25.

· Keep the
speedometer
between
55 and 60
mph to conserve
fuel.

· Keep the
tire pressure
at about
100 pounds
to reduce
rolling
resistance.